{"id":74958,"date":"2024-04-03T12:29:34","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T18:29:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=74958"},"modified":"2025-09-24T08:37:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T14:37:14","slug":"nuggets-jamal-murray-supports-unified-sports-matches-uchealth-donation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/nuggets-jamal-murray-supports-unified-sports-matches-uchealth-donation\/","title":{"rendered":"A master team player, Nuggets’ Jamal Murray supports middle school basketball program that pairs kids with and without disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Star
Star Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray made a surprise visit to Aurora’s North Middle School where he helped coach and donated $5,000 to support Unified Sports, a program that pairs students with and without disabilities. Photos by Justin Tafoya, Clarkson Creative LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Denver Nuggets superstar Jamal Murray has relished great partnerships on the basketball court.<\/p>\n

Thanks to masterful passing and shooting, Murray and his teammates clinched Denver\u2019s first-ever NBA Championship in 2023.<\/p>\n

As the Nuggets vie for another championship this year, Murray recently took time to visit North Middle School in Aurora where the basketball star celebrated younger athletes who also make the most of meaningful sports partnerships.<\/p>\n

\"Jamal
Jamal Murray interviewed students at North Middle School and shared his secrets to success, including working closely with his teammates. Photo by Justin Tafoya, Clarkson Creative LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cheers erupted in the school\u2019s gym on March 26 as Murray made a surprise visit and stepped up to help coach a middle school basketball game that\u2019s part of a unique program called Unified Sports.<\/p>\n

Unified games pair students with and without intellectual and physical disabilities.<\/p>\n

\"Students
Students celebrated during a game at North Middle School in Aurora. The players are part of Unified Sports, a program that allows kids with disabilities to play side-by-side with typical students.\u00a0Photo by Justin Tafoya, Clarkson Creative LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unique Unified Sports program fosters teamwork and relationships for students with and without disabilities<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Duos from North and Aurora Hills Middle School faced off and displayed far more than basketball skills during an afternoon game.<\/p>\n

A visually-impaired player stuck close to his partner, who guided him from one end of the court to the other, where the student felt his way to a special lower basketball hoop and got to experience the joys of a dunk.<\/p>\n

Some players who are on the autism spectrum wore headphones to block out loud sounds but loved working on their dribbling skills. Other students simply skipped across the court or hugged the basketball to their bellies and sprinted toward the basket, fighting off defenders. Yes, there was a ref at the game. But the man in black and white kept his whistle quiet for the most part and overlooked a lot of traveling calls, delighting both players and fans alike.<\/p>\n

\"Felipe
Felipe Avalos, left, has Down syndrome. He danced for the crowd and loved chasing down an opponent during a Unified basketball game at Aurora’s North Middle School. The program allows all students to enjoy sports, regardless of their disabilities. Photo by Justin Tafoya, Clarkson Creative LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As hundreds of students in the bleachers cheered, the duos of typical and disabled students showed off kindness, sensitivity, teamwork and even some dance moves.<\/p>\n

Felipe Avalos, 14, has Down syndrome. He teamed up with his brother, Jonathan Avalos, 13, who usually plays more soccer than hoops. Before the game started, Felipe strutted onto the court and wowed the fans with his breakdancing skills, including a stylish back bend. He later scored some baskets, prompting Murray to share his top coaching tip:<\/p>\n

\u201cGive the ball to Felipe, and get out of the way,\u201d Murray said with a huge grin.<\/p>\n

\"Students
Photo by Justin Tafoya, Clarkson Creative LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fun anytime I get to play basketball and put smiles on kids\u2019 faces,\u201d said Murray, who high-fived all the players and together with Nuggets mascot, Rocky, made his way around the entire gym to greet students who pulled out their phones to capture shots of their basketball superhero.<\/p>\n

\"Rocky,
Rocky, the Denver Nuggets Mascot, was a big hit as he high-fived with players at North Middle School in Aurora. Photo by Justin Tafoya, Clarkson Creative LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI want to help as best as I can and want to see what\u2019s best for the kids and to help inspire them,\u201d Murray said. \u201cThat\u2019s my main thing. Hopefully, they see me do that, and one day, when they get older, they\u2019ll recognize the importance of it and do it as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Photos
Photos by Justin Tafoya, Clarkson Creative LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Murray was so impressed with the Unified game that he spontaneously decided to match a UCHealth donation of $5,000 with a $5,000 gift of his own. Aurora Public Schools plans to use the $10,000 from Murray and UCHealth to support Unified teams and purchase sports equipment. Along with basketball, the program pairs athletic duos who compete in track and field, soccer and bowling.<\/p>\n

The Unified motto is this: \u201cPlaying together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jamal
Jamal Murray high-fived players after a Unified Sports basketball game at North Middle School in Aurora. Murray also decided after the game to match UCHealth’s donation of $5,000 to Unified Sports. Photo by Justin Tafoya, Clarkson Creative LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New partnership flourishing between UCHealth and Aurora Public Schools<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Anschutz Medical Campus<\/a>, which is home to UCHeath University of Colorado Hospital<\/a>, is located just blocks from North Middle School, and UCHealth is thrilled to be expanding its partnerships with Aurora schools.<\/p>\n

\"Allison
Allison Parada grinned as she played basketball. Parada, who has Down syndrome, was so thrilled after she scored a basket that she ran off the court and high-fived and hugged her parents. Photo by Justin Tafoya, Clarkson Creative LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

David Mafe, UCHealth\u2019s chief diversity officer and vice president of human resources for UCHealth’s Denver metro region, was on hand for the Unified game and presented a ceremonial $5,000 check after the game. He said the partnerships he witnessed on the basketball court reminded him a lot of teamwork he sees every day in health care.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was great that Jamal Murray could be here. We saw a bunch of people who came together with different abilities,\u201d Mafe told the crowd. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to develop our relationship with Aurora Public Schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

Support for Unified teams are just the beginning of a flourishing partnership with the health care system and the school district, Mafe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re building learning opportunities so students can understand what life looks like in a health care setting,\u201d Mafe said.<\/p>\n

Many Aurora students would love to follow Murray into the NBA, of course. But others might achieve their dreams through careers as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hoping to develop a health care curriculum with Aurora Public Schools so we\u2019ll have a pipeline of workers who are ready to go,\u201d Mafe said.<\/p>\n

A basket then a hug for her dad<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Along with Felipe, other students dazzled the crowd.<\/p>\n

Brianna Gomez, a 13-year-old with Down syndrome, fearlessly guarded kids who were two feet taller than she is.<\/p>\n

And Allison Parada, an 11-year-old 6th<\/sup> grader, became a fan favorite when she scored a basket on her third attempt then raced over during the game to hug her dad on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

Allison\u2019s dad, Victor Parada, had come to watch the game along with his wife and Allison\u2019s older sister.<\/p>\n

Victor\u2019s eyes welled with tears as he watched his daughter play, and both he and Allison sported huge grins.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a special girl. She has Down syndrome. I\u2019m very proud of her,\u201d Victor said. \u201cEvery team she\u2019s been on, she just loves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray\u2019s visit to Allison\u2019s school was a huge win on top of a winning sports program that welcomes all kids.<\/p>\n

Said Victor: \u201cWe follow the Nuggets. We love them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Denver Nuggets superstar Jamal Murray has relished great partnerships on the basketball court. Thanks to masterful passing and shooting, Murray and his teammates clinched Denver\u2019s first-ever NBA Championship in 2023. As the Nuggets vie for another championship this year, Murray recently took time to visit North Middle School in Aurora where the basketball star celebrated 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